1. Introduction
2. Inhibitors of 3Cpro
3. Structural basis for different
inhibitor specificities of 3Cpro
and 3CLpro and their dual
inhibitors
4. Expert opinion
Review
Picornaviral 3C protease inhibitorsand the dual 3C protease/coronaviral 3C-like proteaseinhibitorsHui-Min Wang & Po-Huang Liang††Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Importance of the field: Picornaviruses are small non-enveloped RNA viruses
with genomic RNA of 7500 – 8000 nucleotides, whereas coronaviruses (CoV)
are RNA viruses with larger genome of 27 – 32 kb. Both types of viruses
translate their genetic information into polyprotein precursors that are pro-
cessed by virally encoded 3C proteases (3Cpro) and 3C-like proteases (3CLpro),
respectively, to generate functional viral proteins. The most studied human
rhinoviruses (HRV) belonging to picornaviridae family are the main etiologic
agents of the common cold. Due to lack of effective drugs, 3Cpro has served as
an excellent target for anti-viral intervention and considerable efforts have
been made in the development of inhibitors. Interestingly, the inhibitors of
3Cpro cannot inhibit 3CLpro potently without modification due to subtle
differences in their active-site structures, but a group of common inhibitors
against 3Cpro and 3CLpro were found recently.
Areas covered in this review: The inhibitors against 3Cpro reported in the
literatures and patents, with a focus on those inhibiting HRV and the dual
picornaviral 3Cpro/coronaviral 3CLpro inhibitors, are summarized in this review.
Whatthereaderswillgain:Readerswill rapidlygainanoverviewofthe individual
and dual 3Cpro inhibitors and the structural basis for discriminating them.
Take home message: In the future, more selective potent inhibitors against
each protease and dual inhibitors against both proteases can be further
developed to treat the diseases caused by picornaviruses and CoV.
Keywords: 3C protease, 3CL protease, coronavirus, inhibitor, picornavirus, rhinovirus
Expert Opin. Ther. Patents (2010) 20(1):59-71
1. Introduction
1.1 Pathogens of respiratory infective diseasesRespiratory infections are recognized as the major cause of acute morbidity inindividuals of all ages worldwide [1]. The morbidity associated with respiratoryinfections in developing countries are as severe as those in industrialized countries,and these infections are the leading cause of death in children under the age offive [2]. Viruses are the most frequently identified pathogens of respiratory infectivediseases. The primary viral pathogens associated with acute respiratory infectionsinclude picornaviruses, coronaviruses (CoV), adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses,influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial viruses [3,4]. In terms of causing acuterespiratory infection in humans, the CoV that emerged recently to cause severeacute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the picornaviruses are the two mainculprits [5,6]. CoV are the positive-stranded RNA viruses with larger genome of27 – 32 kb, which typically cause respiratory and enteric diseases, pneumonia,
10.1517/13543770903460323 © 2010 Informa UK Ltd ISSN 1354-3776 59All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or in part not permitted
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exacerbation of asthma, neurological symptoms and myo-carditis in humans and domestic animals. The outbreak ofSARS, caused by a novel human CoV, was spread fromChina to 29 countries in 2003, infecting a total of ~ 8000people and killing ~ 800 patients [7-10]. On the other hand,picornaviridae are small non-enveloped RNA viruses with asingle strand of genomic RNA of 7500 – 8000 nucleo-tides [11-17]. The members of picornaviridae include rhino-viruses (RV), enteroviruses (EV), coxsackieviruses (CV),polioviruses, echoviruses, encephalomyocarditis viruses,meningitis virus, foot and mouth viruses and hepatitis Avirus. Among them, human RV (HRV) are the major causeof the common cold [18], whereas EV and CV infection cancause hand, foot, and mouth diseases in human and ani-mals [3]. In severe cases, EV can damage the CNS leading toviral meningitis, encephalitis and severe myocarditis, as wellas fatal pulmonary edema [19-21]. CV strain B3 is a majorhuman pathogen that causes meningitis and mycocarditisleading to heart failure in young adults and congestive heartfailure [22].HRV is a genus of the picornaviridae family implicated in
50 – > 80% of upper respiratory tract infections [23]. Afterattachment to the host cell, the viral genomic RNA takes offits coat from the viral capsid. The positive-stranded viralRNA is translated to viral proteins essential for viral genereplication and production of new viral particles. Genomereplication and mRNA synthesis occur in small membranousvesicles, induced by several viral proteins. The viral replica-tion speed relies on many factors, such as virus strain,temperature, pH, host cell type and multiplicity of infection.Typically, a single replication cycle ranges from 5 to 10 h. Inaddition to the common cold, HRV cause a number of otherrespiratory tract infections and complications such as acuteotitis media, acute sinusitis, acute exacerbations of chronicobstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma exacerbations inchildren and adults [24].
1.2 Difficulties of developing inhibitors forpicornaviridaeResearchers have faced several challenges in attempting todevelop anti-viral agents to treat infections caused byHRV [25,26]. First, there are > 100 serotypes of HRV, whichcause vaccine development to be impractical whilst compli-cated efforts must be made to develop effective anti-viraltreatments with broad activity across all serotypes. Second,to make an anti-HRV compound effective, good oral bio-availability and tissue distribution are essential to reach suf-ficient drug quantity at the infected site. Third, as all acuteviral illness treatment must be given at a critical time pointfollowing infection for optimal effect, and most of thesymptoms occur within the first 3 days of illness, the drugmust be capable of reducing the severity of symptoms withinthe first 24 h of management [27]. Finally, as the clinicalmanifestation of HRV infection in otherwise healthyindividuals is typically an upper respiratory infection,
the drug must have an excellent safety profile to ensurean appropriate risk:benefit ratio [28].
The absence of effective vaccines for most viral infectionshighlights an urgent necessity for the design and developmentof effective anti-viral drugs. Due to the advancement invirology since the late 1980s, several key events in the virallife cycle have been well delineated and a number of moleculartargets have been validated, culminating in the emergence of afew new anti-viral drugs in recent years. Inhibitors againstinfectious viruses have been currently under active investiga-tion. To date, numerous compounds with significant in vitroactivity against HRV have been found [29]. However, themajority of these compounds bind to the viral capsid andinhibit either viral attachment/adsorption or subsequentuncoating [26]. The key roles of Cys proteases in the lifecycles of infectious agents such as protozoa and viruseshave turned into new important targets for anti-infectivedrugs [30]. Thus, the effective inhibition of pathologicallyrelevant Cys proteases has raised increasing interests in drugdevelopment [31]. Anti-picornavirus agents were designed totarget the 3C protease (3Cpro), which is highly conservedamong different viral serotypes, and have exhibited greatpotential in therapeutic utility.
1.3 3C and 3C-like proteases as anti-viral targetsIn picornaviridae, the roles of proteases as protein degradingand protein processing enzymes both in physiological andpathological processes of mammals are well known [32-35].Upon entry into susceptible host cells, the viral RNA of HRVis translated into a long polyprotein of approximately250 kDa. HRV requires the translation of a polyproteinprecursor cleaved by virally encoded proteases into the pro-teins that make up the viral capsid and replication machin-ery. This single polyprotein undergoes proteolysis by thevirus-encoded proteases 2A and 3C into 11 final products(4 structural and 7 non-structural proteins) [36,37]. Cleavageof the Tyr-Gly pairs which connect coat precursors P1 toP2-P3 and 3C/3D in EV is accomplished by viral protease2A, but the cleavage of 3C/3D by protease 2A is not essentialfor viability of the virus. The remaining cleavage in P2-P3 atthe Gln-Gly pair is executed by viral protease 3C, which isessential for EV replication. Members of the 3Cpro family areCys proteases, where the sulfhydryl group most often cleavesthe glutamine-glycine amide bond. 3Cpro of HRV has beenused by Agouron Pharmaceuticals Co. (later merged intoPfizer Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) to develop AG7088 (seebelow), for the treatment of common cold [38]. It indeedcan inhibit a broad spectrum of picornaviruses by inhibitingtheir 3Cpro due to their high sequence homology [39],although the drug-resistant 3Cpro mutants have beenfound [40]. On the other hand, SARS-CoV contains a 3C-like protease (3CLpro) analogous to the 3Cpro of picornavir-idae responsible for processing two overlapping polyproteins,pp1a (486 kDa) and pp1ab (790 kDa). Other members of
Picornaviral 3C protease inhibitors and the dual 3C protease/coronaviral 3C-like protease inhibitors
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human CoV including CoV-229E, CoV-OC43, CoV-HKU1and CoV-NL63 also require a 3CLpro in the maturation ofviral proteins [41-43]. Although AG7088 was suggested as astarting point for the design of anti-SARS drugs [44], it wasfound unable to inhibit SARS-CoV 3CLpro [45], suggestingat least subtle differences in the active-site structures of3Cpro and 3CLpro.
2. Inhibitors of 3Cpro
Previously developed 3Cpro inhibitors including iodoaceta-mides, b-lactones, Michael acceptors, ketones and pseudox-azolones are summarized in the review article [46]. However,after 2005, no patent of 3Cpro inhibitors was found probablydue to the most potent 3Cpro inhibitor AG7088 having beendiscovered and most research effort was focused on thedevelopment of SARS-CoV 3CLpro inhibitors. In this review,some more 3Cpro inhibitors, especially those inhibiting both3Cpro and 3CLpro discovered recently, are described below.
2.1 AG7088 and analoguesAG7088 (now called Rupintrivir) is a potent, irreversibleinhibitor of HRV 3Cpro developed through a series of stud-ies [47-51]. This peptidomimetic inhibitor (see 1, Figure 1) con-tained a lactam ring to mimic Gln at the P1-position,fluoro-phenylalanine at P2, Val at P3 followed by 5-methyl-3-isoxazole, and an a,b-unsaturated ester at P1¢ as a Michaelacceptor to forma covalent bondwith the active siteCys residue.TheP1-lactam-containing inhibitors displayed enhanced3Cpro
inhibition activity along with improved anti-HRV propertiesrelative to the corresponding glutamine-derivedmolecules. Theinhibitors with amide bond connecting P2 and P3 (e.g.,2, Figure 1) gave similar anti-HRV 14 activity.
The activity of AG7088 was tested in vitro against fiverepresentative HRV serotypes and 46 clinical HRV isolates,identified from patients with common colds. The EC50
(median effective concentration, effective in 50% of isolates)for the five serotypes was 0.02 µg/ml (range < 0.01 to 0.03 µg/ml).For the clinical isolates from nasopharyngeal washes, themedian EC50 was 0.01 µg/ml (range < 0.01 to 0.04 µg/ml)[52]. In experimental HRV challenge studies of AG7088prophylaxis or early treatment regimens in adults, AG7088prophylaxis or a placebo was administered intranasally 6 hbefore the viral challenge and continued two or five times aday for 5 days. For early treatment regimens in adults,administration began 24 h after the challenge. In the pro-phylaxis studies, viral shedding was reduced in the groupreceiving AG7088 five times a day. The incidence of colds,total symptom scores, respiratory symptoms and nasaldischarge were also reduced, with a trend towards greatereffects in those treated five times a day. In early treatmentstudies, viral titers were reduced by 2 – 3 days after viralchallenge. Although AG7088 did not prevent experimentalHRV infection, it modestly reduced illness severity givenbefore or within 1 day of infection, with administration
five times a day. The most common drug-related adverseevents (nausea and taste disturbance) were mild in severity.
In 2001, Schmidt et al. conducted a research in whichAG7088 was evaluated in 868 subjects enrolled in a Phase II ofnaturally-acquired picornaviral infections. In their study, only29% of subjects were found to have illness caused by thepicornaviruses, no effect was seen on respiratory symptomsand the drug was well tolerated. In a subset of subjects whostarted treatment within 24 h or when the symptom justoccurred, a trend was noted towards reduction of total andrespiratory symptoms [53]. The intranasal compound was laterreformulated to optimize delivery of the active ingredient tothe nasal cavity.
AG7088 exhibits better potency and a broader spectrum ofanti-HRV activity than pleconaril, which blocks viral entrytowards clinical HRV isolates [54]. The median EC50 valuedetermined by microscopic CPE inhibition was slightly betterfor AG7088 compared to pleconaril, but was indistinguishableby spectrophotometric assay. In the case of clinical HRVisolates, however, the median EC50 value determined forAG7088 either microscopically or spectrophotometricallywas < 1.0 µg/ml and was > 10.0 µg/ml for pleconaril.
Symptom severity in patients with HRV-induced respira-tory illness correlated with elevated levels of inflammatorycytokines IL-6 and -8. AG7088 was tested for its anti-viralactivity and ability to inhibit IL-6 and -8 production in ahuman bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B. Infection ofBEAS-2B cells with HRV-14 resulted in the production ofboth infectious virus and the cytokines IL-6 and -8. Treatmentof HRV-14 infected cells with AG7088 resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the levels of infectious virus as well asIL-6 and -8 in the cell supernatant. AG7088 is able to inhibitthe replication of the virus in BEAS-2B cells [55].
Tian et al. from Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. obtained anUS patent entitled ‘Efficient synthetic routes for the prepa-ration of rhinovirus protease inhibitors and key intermediates’for the application of the AG7088-like compounds withMichael acceptor to inhibit the HRV 3Cpro. They proposeda formula as potential 3Cpro inhibitors (18, Figure 2) withoutproviding their inhibition data [56].
Based on comparative computer modeling, because an Asnresidue delineating the S2¢ pocket in HRV 3Cpro was replacedby a Tyr residue in CVB3 3Cpro, AG7088 was modified bysubstitution of the ethyl group at the P2¢ position with varioushydrophobic aromatic rings in order to interact preferentiallywith the Tyr residue in the S2¢ pocket of CVB3 3CP [57]. Theresulting derivatives showed dramatically increased inhibitoryactivities againstCVB33Cpro. In addition,oneof thederivativeseffectively inhibited the CVB3 proliferation in vitro.
2.2 Tripeptide aldehydes against HRV 3Cpro
Because peptide aldehydes have been successfully used asinhibitors for Cys and Ser proteases, as well as shown toform reversible covalent adducts, the modified tripeptidealdehydes were designed and synthesized as inhibitors for
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HRV 3Cpro[58]. Molecular models based on the crystal
structures of HRV-14 3Cpro and other trypsin-like serineproteases were constructed to approximate the binding ofpeptide substrate, generating transition state models ofP1–P10 amide cleavage. Because glutaminal derivatives existpredominantly in the cyclic hemiaminal form, several isostericreplacements for P1 carboxamide side chain were designedand incorporated into the tripeptide aldehydes. The
synthesized compounds were found to be potent inhibitorsof purified HRV-14 3Cpro with Ki ranging from 0.005 to0.65 µM. For example, as shown in 3, Figure 1, this compoundhas low micromolar anti-viral activity, low toxicity and rea-sonable therapeutic index. Along this line, structure-baseddesign of ketone-containing tripeptidyl HRV 3Cpro reversibleinhibitors were also reported [59]. Another compound with the5-methyl-3-isoxazole group at P4-position shown in 4, Figure1,
III
II
I
A.CVB3 3Cpro
CoV 229E 3CLpro
B.
Picornaviral 3C protease inhibitors and the dual 3C protease/coronaviral 3C-like protease inhibitors
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R1
O
NH2
O OEt
NN
CN
R1
=
9 (kobs/[I] = 139 M-1s-1, EC50 = 0.6 µM, CC50 = 79 µM)
HN
OH
2N
O
N
O
NH
O
H2N
O
O
O
NH
O
H2N
O
N
O
NH2
OO
11 [0.2-0.8a, ++++b (5-10 µg/mL), ++c (500 µg/mL)]
10 [1.4a, ++b (100 µg/mL)]
HO NH
HN
O
NH2
OS
NO
O
O
OH
12 GSNO (0.237a, 0.36b, 656c)
HN
NH
HN
NH
HN
NH
HN
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
OH
OS
NO
COOH CONH2
13 EALFQCG-SNO (0.107a, 0.02b, 5360c)
R1
R2
R3R
4
HO
R
OR = CH3
R1 = O-CH3
R2 = H
R3 = OH
R4 = Cl
14 (EC50 = 11 mM, TD50 = 22 mM)
R1
R3
NH2
O O
R2
R1 = CH2R2 = PhR3 = CH2Cl
15 (14a, 79b, 91c)
N
O
O
R1
R2
R1 = CH2 (6-OMe-β-naphthyl)R2=CONH2
16 (Ki = 3 nM)
O
O
OH
OH
N
COOH
COOH
17
R4 N
HZ
1
OR
5
R6
R2
R3
R1
Z
18 19 (IC50 = 0.08 µM)
O
O
O
R1
N
BrR1 =
N
XOR1
O
NHN
R1 =
X = Cl
20 (IC50 = 0.29 µM)
Figure 2. Non-peptidomimetic inhibitors of 3Cpro. The symbols (++++) and (++) indicate inhibition >75% and 50 ~ 25%,respectively. aIC50 (µM), btranslation assay and cwhole cell anti-viral assay.
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displayed potent 3Cpro inhibition activity and in vitro anti-viral property when tested against HRV serotype-14. Analo-gues of tripeptide aldehyde (e.g., 5, Figure 1) were alsosynthesized to inhibit picornavirus 3Cpro
[60]. The Ki forthe synthesized molecules ranged from 0.0045 to 1.7 µM.A class of HRV-14 serotype 3Cpro inhibitors containing a
tripeptide as well as a Michael acceptor moiety capable ofbinding irreversibly to the active site Cys of 3Cpro wasdescribed as agents against RV (e.g., 6, Figure 1). The a,b-unsaturated ketone of ethacrynic acid, a diuretic drug, wasfound to be an appropriate electrophilic moiety. Analysis ofthe HRV-2 3Cpro X-ray crystal structure [61] revealed that onlythe trans P1 Gln amide hydrogen atom interacted with theprotease, while the cis NH was found to be exposed to thesolvent because of methylation at this location.Dragovich et al. (Pfizer) demonstrated animal models of
HRV infections to correlate human symptomatology within vitro anti-HRV activities and revealed the significance ofobserved differences between dog and monkey [50] (e.g., 7in Figure 1 showed EC50 = 0.058 µM, 7 h dog plasmalevel = 0.248 µM and 7 h monkey plasma level = 0.057µM). They illustrated these peptidomimetics, 2-pyridone-containing irreversible HRV 3Cpro inhibitors, as orally bio-available, potent, anti-HRV and broad spectrum agents.These compounds containing an a,b-unsaturated ethyl esterfragment and either an ethyl or propargyl P2 moiety pre-sented the most potent combination of 3Cpro inhibition(kobs/[I] 170,000 – 223,000 M-1 s-1), antiviral activity(EC50 = 0.047 – 0.058 µM against seven HRV serotypes)and pharmacokinetics following oral administration (7 h dogplasma levels = 0.248 – 0.682 µM; 7 h CM-monkey plasmalevels = 0.057 – 0.896 µM).A group of tripeptide aldehydes with the replacement of
a,b-unsaturated ester warhead of AG7088 with aldehydegroup were synthesized and evaluated on inhibiting the3Cpro of EV strain 71 (EV71) and the viral replication [62].Compared to the complicated procedure to synthesizeAG7088, which requires synthesis and assembly of threemoieties, potent AG7088 analogues can be easily synthesizedand used as anti-EV71 agents. In contrast to the HRV 3Cpro
inhibitors, which contain Gln or unnatural amino acid at P1,Phe at P2 and Cbz-Leu at the P3-position, showing moderateEC50 in the micromolar range [58], compound 8 (Figure 1)with the lactam ring at the P1-position, Phe at P2, cinnamoylderivatives at P3 and aldehyde group exhibited great inhib-itory activities in enzymatic and anti-viral assays(EC50 = 0.018 µM) without cytotoxicity (CC50 > 25 µM)[62]. Therefore, the P1-lactam group is important and Leu orVal at the P3-position seems not important for the anti-virusactivity. However, structural features of P1-lactam, P2-Pheand P1¢-a,b-unsaturated ester do not guarantee potent 3Cpro
inhibition. Addition of the cinnamoyl group at P3 andsimultaneous replacement of P1¢-a,b-unsaturated ester withaldehyde yield potent inhibition as rationalized by thecomputer modeling [62]. This study provides potent EV71
3Cpro inhibitors as effective as anti-EV71 agents and facilitatesthe combinatorial synthesis of derivatives for further improvingthe inhibitory activity.
2.3 a,b-Unsaturated keto benzamidesIn order to have more favorable pharmacokinetic propertiesand to develop orally taken 3Cpro inhibitors, certain substi-tuted benzamides as non-peptide inhibitors of HRV 3Cpro
were invented [63]. a, b-Unsaturated keto benzamides showedgood inhibitory property; yet, 5-substituted benzamides werefound to be more active (e.g., 9, Figure 2).
2.4 Glutamine aldehyde derivativesHammond et al. (Eli Lilly and Co.) synthesized a series ofglutamines derivatives to test anti-HRV activity, titled ‘Anti-picornaviral agents in United States Patent 5,821,331’ [64]. Asdescribed in the patent, Hela cells were incubated overnight at37�C in 5% CO2 atmosphere, and then infected with HRV.After allowing the virus to be adsorbed into the cells for1 – 2 h, a medium containing serial dilutions of inhibitor ormedium alone was added to the wells. The concentration ofinhibitor required to inhibit the development of a viral-induced cytopathic effect by 50% (IC50) (µg/ml) was thendetermined from the linear portion of each dose responsecurve. Their inhibitors 10 and 11 are shown as examplesin Figure 2 with the assay results (aIC50 (µM), btranslationassay and cwhole cell anti-viral assay).
2.5 S-nitrosothiols analoguesHRV 3Cpro was also inactivated by a series of S-nitro-sothiols [65], which exhibited inhibitory activities in a time-and concentration-dependent manner with second-order rateconstants (Kinact/K1) ranging from 131 to 5360 M-1 min-1
(e.g., 12, 13 are shown in Figure 2, aKinact (min-1), bKi (µM),cKinact/Ki (min-1M-1)). As the inactivated enzymewas shown tobe reactivated by DDT, GSH and ascorbate, the inactivationprocess was through an S-transnitrosylation process.
2.6 Benzene analoguesArad and coworkers from the Cytoclonal Pharmaceutics, Inc.obtained a United States Patent 6,888,033 B1 [66], entitled‘Anti-viral compounds’ for a series of the benzene analogues.The ability of benzene derivatives in inhibiting viral 3Cpro
activity was compared with the ability of the compounds ininhibiting the viral life cycle (e.g., 14, Figure 2, which showedEC50 of 11 µM and TD50 of 22 µM). Interestingly, many ofthe compounds displayed greater in vivo anti-viral activity(H1-HeLa cells) than inhibition of the 3Cpro activity, indi-cating that the compounds may target more sites than the3Cpro. The inhibition of cytopathic effect ICE50 (the con-centration in which 50% of the cells remain viable after viralinfection) by inhibitors was measured. Compounds weretested at concentrations lower than 50% toxic dose (TD50)previously found.
Picornaviral 3C protease inhibitors and the dual 3C protease/coronaviral 3C-like protease inhibitors
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Maugeri et al. used docking studies on the crystallizedstructure of HRV-2 3Cpro to design and synthesize a seriesof 3,5 disubstituted benzamides (e.g., 15, Figure 2, whichinhibited 14, 79 and 91% of the 3Cpro activity at a0.1, b1, andc10 µM) [67]. They also examined 1,3,5-trisubstituted benza-mides which contained aromatic substituents to investigate thesignificance of p–p interaction on the stabilization of the3Cpro-inhibitor complex. All inhibitors were assayed againstHRV-14 3Cpro. In this report, some 1,3 disubstituted and1,3,5 trisubstituted benzamides inhibited HRV-143Cpro > 90% at 10 µM.
2.7 1,5-Disubstituted isatinsA combination of protein structure-based drug design, molec-ular modeling and structure-activity relationship analysis [68]
led to the discovery of a novel series of 2,3-dioxindoles(isatins) as HRV-14 3Cpro reversible inhibitors. The isatinC-2 carbonyl was envisioned to react in the active site of HRV3Cpro with the Cys responsible for catalytic proteolysis.Molecular modeling using the HRV-14 3Cpro crystal structureand a peptide substrate provided the template for buildingrecognition features into P1 and P2 subsites, respectively,from 5- to 1-positions of isatin. The synthesized compounds(e.g., 16, Figure 2, which showed a Ki of 3 nM) were found topossess excellent inhibitory properties toward HRV-14 3Cpro
compared to other proteolytic enzymes, includingchymotrypsin and cathepsin B.
2.8 Quinone analoguesRecently, it was claimed that compounds having quinonemoiety as well as quinone analogues are useful inhibitors ofCys proteases, in particular, caspases and 3C cysteine pro-teases [69]. These compounds, as exemplified in Figure 2, 17,have been tested against HRVs 1A, 1B and 14 and showedmoderate in vitro activity with IC50 values ranging aroundsub-micromolar to micromolar. They are assumed to act asactive Michael acceptors which are prone to attack by the Cysresidue, thereby, disrupting the activity of Cys protease.
2.9 Heteroaromatic estersIm et al. synthesized 31 heteroaromatic esters, non-peptidicinhibitors, to screen against HRV 3Cpro. Substitution of5-halopyridine with various heteroaromatic rings resulted inthe discovery of the 4-quinolinone group as an alternative keystructure [70]. Heteroaromatic esters compounds with thio-phen-2-carbonyl, benzoyl, phenylpropanoyl groups and cin-namoyl showed lower activities than the 2-furoyl analogues,and the most effective inhibitor with a 5-bromopyridinylgroup, having an IC50 value of 80 nM (19, Figure 2). Substi-tution of the furan ring C5-group with the aromatic groupsretained a high level of inhibition. The aromatic groups couldform the p-stacking interaction with histidine (His40) ratherthan tight binding to S2 pocket. The 2-naphthoyl, 1-naphthoyland imidazole groups are building blocks showing potentinhibitory activities (IC50 = 290 nM for 20, Figure 2).
3. Structural basis for different inhibitorspecificities of 3Cpro and 3CLpro and their dualinhibitors
As described above, many inhibitors have been developed toinhibit 3Cpro of HRV and EV and 3CLpro of SARS-CoV.However, their inhibitors could not be mutually used withoutmodification. For example, AG7088, a potent inhibitor ofpicornavirus 3Cpro, failed to inhibit SARS-CoV 3CLpro [45] andthe AG7088 analogues which showed good inhibition on3CLpro did not significantly inhibit 3Cpro
[71]. The differentinhibitor specificity of 3Cpro and 3CLpro indicate at least subtledifferences in the active-site structures of these two kinds ofproteases. These structural differences to discriminate the inhi-bitors are described below. However, the dual 3Cpro/3CLpro
inhibitors which equally inhibited 3Cpro and 3CLpro have beendiscovered recently [72] as also summarized below.
3.1 Structural differences of 3Cpro and 3CLpro fordiscriminating inhibitorsAG7088 only inhibits 3Cpro strongly, but the compoundsTG-0204998 and TG-0205221 retaining the P1¢ a,b-unsatured esters but changing P2 and P3 groups show betterinhibition against 3CLpro than 3Cpro (Figure 3A). First, unlike3CLpro, which is dimeric and in which each subunit iscomposed of three domains I, II and III, 3Cpro is a monomerwith only two catalytic domains I and II (Figure 4A). Second,based on structure-based sequence alignment, 3CLpro has alarge loop between the b-strands C1 and D1, whereas 3Cpro
has smaller loops inserted between E1 and F1 and between B2and C2 [73]. The C1-D1 loop of SARS-CoV 3CLpro securesthe S2 hydrophobic pocket for the P2 side chain. The twoloops E1-F1 and B2-C2 of CVB3 3Cpro are also adjacent tothe active site, and they modulate binding of the P3 and P4residues. For the peptidomimetic inhibitors, both TG-0204998 and TG-0205486 bind to the active site ofSARS-CoV 3CLpro in similar modes, whereas TG-0204998binds differently to CVB3 3Cpro (Figure 4B). The P2-cyclo-hexyl side chain of an inhibitor, TG0205221, fits well in theS2 site of SARS-CoV 3CLpro but is too bulky for CVB3 3Cpro,whereas the P2-Leu of another inhibitor, TG0204998, fitswell in both. The CVB3 3Cpro E1-F1 loop makes the S2 siteshallow and open. This is consistent with its 46-fold higher Ki
of TG-0205221. On the other hand, CVB3 3Cpro structure isanalogous to that of RV 3Cpro, and a P2-phenyl side chainmay be preferred by CVB3 3Cpro as evidenced from the tightbinding of AG7088 to HRV 3Cpro
[74]. Moreover, the P3 t-butyl group is favored for tight binding to the SARS-CoV3CLpro S3 site, which enhances the inhibitionby > 10-fold [72]. Conversely, the AG7088 P3-Val fitsHRV 3Cpro very well, but the additional t-butyl group makesthe compounds weaker CVB3 3Cpro inhibitors. With thet-butyl group, the bulky P3-residue is actually relocated tothe hydrophobic environment in the S4 site formed by theCVB3 3Cpro B2-C2 loop, leaving the unbound P4-benzoxy
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O
O
HN
O
NH
O
HN
O
NHO
NHO
TG-0204998
O
O
HN
O
NH
O
HN
O
NHO
NHO
TG-0205486
N
N
N
N
N
N
CIN
BrN
N
CI CI
A.
B.
43146
8.1a, 10.3b, 5.4c, 3.3d, 5.2e
0.8a, 0.058b
0.4a, 0.099b
45240
2.5a, 2.6b, 1.2c, 0.5d, 1.7e
Figure 3. Discriminating and dual 3Cpro/3CLpro inhibitors. A. Peptidomimetic compounds as better inhibitors against aCVB3 3Cpro thanagainst bSARS-CoV 3CLpro. B. 43146 and 45240 as inhibitors of 3CLpro from aSARS-CoV and bHCoV229E, as well as 3Cpro from cCVB3,dEV71, and eHRV14.
Picornaviral 3C protease inhibitors and the dual 3C protease/coronaviral 3C-like protease inhibitors
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III
II
I
A.CVB3 3Cpro
CoV 229E 3CLpro
B.
Figure 4. Structural basis of inhibitor specificity of 3Cpro and 3CLpro. A. Crystal structures of CVB3 3Cpro (upper left) and CoV229E3CLpro (upper right), and the superimposed structures colored in orange, light blue and green for CVB3 3Cpro, SARS-CoV 3CLpro andCoV229E 3CLpro, respectively (bottom). B. Co-crystal structures of TG-0204998 bound with CVB3 3Cpro and SARS-CoV 3CLpro. (Readersare referred to the full-colour version, available at http://informahealthcare.com/loi/etp)
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group facing the bulk solvent [73]. This may also contribute tothe higher Ki. Removal of the P3 t-butyl group or the entire P4residue may improve the inhibitors against CVB3 3Cpro.In these inhibitors, the P1 site favors Gln or its mimicking
lactam ring, and the lactam ring provides 15-fold betterinhibitory activity than Gln as revealed by the previouslyreported structure-activity relationships. Strong binding of thelactam ring to the proteases is evidenced by the multiplehydrogen-bond formations in the crystal structures [73]. Addi-tion of a cyclopropyl group to the TG-0205486 P1¢ residueenhances the inhibition against CVB3 3Cpro by almost four-fold as compared to TG-0203770, but it becomes weakeragainst SARS-CoV 3CLpro. The triangular group tended toclash with the protein atoms, due to the more limited space ofthe S1¢ site adjacent to the loop C1-D1. In CVB3 3Cpro, theS1¢ site is more open, yet still flanked by the hydrophobic sidechain of Phe25.
3.2 Dual 3Cpro/3CLpro inhibitorsThrough high-throughput screening on a library of ~ 6800compounds provided by Korean Chemical Bank (Faejeon,Korea), compounds which can inhibit both 3Cpro fromHCVB3, HEV71 and HRV14 as well as 3CLpro fromSARS-CoV and HCoV229E were identified [72]. These inhi-bitors as shown in Figure 3B contain a dihydropyrazole ring inthe center surrounded by 3 or 4 groups. The diphenyl4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole moiety of 43146 fits well at theS1¢ and S2 sites in the SARS 3CLpro with the rest of themolecule at the S3 site and beyond. With this binding mode,the compound was predicted to also bind well in the 3Cpro,consistent with the inhibition data. In fact, RV 3Cpro prefers aphenyl group at the S2 site, as evidenced by its stronginhibition by AG7088 which has a P2-fluorophenylalanine.Thus, it could be rationalized by computer modeling that only43146 among the five hits can inhibit the 3Cpro in addition tothe 3CLpro. The analogues of 43146, such as 45240 as shownin Figure 3B, bind in the 3Cpro and 3CLpro active sites withsimilar modes to that of 43146. 45240 showed significantlybetter inhibition against the 3Cpro than 43146. Apparently,the lengthy side chain attached to the phenyl group in thecompound did not provide additional interaction with the
protease, consistent with the binding mode deduced fromcomputer modeling. However, the additional interaction maybe provided by the pyridine ring bound near the more openS1¢ site in 3Cpro.
4. Expert opinion
In this review, the inhibitors against 3Cpro are summarizedand the structural basis of inhibition specificities of 3Cpro and3CLpro by peptidomimetic compounds described. The tripep-tide aldehyde and the tripeptides with the a,b-unsaturatedgroup as Michael acceptor (e.g., AG7088) for the active-siteCys are the potent inhibitors of 3Cpro. AG7088 has beenshown to be effective in inhibiting many 3Cpro from a broadspectrum of picornavirus, but failed to inhibit SARS-CoV3CLpro. The AG7088 analogues with P2 cyclohexyl moietyand additional P3 t-butyl group favor the binding with the3CLpro. Crystal structures can be used to elucidate the subtlechanges between the active-site structures of 3Cpro and3CLpro [73-77]. The separate efforts of developing inhibitorsagainst 3Cpro
[78] and 3CLpro [79-81] may be merged to providethe rationale to design selective potent inhibitors against eachtype of the proteases, that is, with suitable modifications, theinhibitors of 3CLpro can be converted into the inhibitors of3Cpro and vice versa. Moreover, a group of compounds werefound to inhibit 3Cpro and 3CLpro almost equally, providing apossibility of developing dual inhibitors against both pro-teases. These exciting discoveries will lead to more varieties ofinhibitors, which can then be potentially used to treat thediseases caused by picornavirus and CoV.
Acknowledgement
Both authors contributed equally to the preparation ofthis review.
Declaration of interest
The authors state no conflict of interest and have received nopayment in preparation of this manuscript.
Picornaviral 3C protease inhibitors and the dual 3C protease/coronaviral 3C-like protease inhibitors
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AffiliationHui-Min Wang1 & Po-Huang Liang†2
†Author for correspondence1Kaohsiung Medical University,
Center of Excellence for Environmental Medicine,
Department of Fragrance and Cosmetic Science,
Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: 886 7 3121101 ext 2804;
Fax: 886 7 3210683;
E-mail: [email protected] of Biological Chemistry,
Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529,
Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: 886 2 23620261 ext 3091
Fax: 886 2 23635038;
E-mail: [email protected]
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